Cavan left too big a hill to climb but nearly got there
Eirgrid Ulster under 20 football championship round 1
Cavan 0-16
Donegal 2-15
Damien Donohoe
in Kingspan Breffni
Finding the pitch of a game in your first competitive outing for the year can be difficult and Cavan took too long to do that against Donegal. When they finally did reach the level, they were marginally the better team and could have taken the victory but for a controversial second yellow card shown to Evan Crowe when Larry Reilly’s side were after scoring five points in a row.
Donegal was much quicker off the mark and scored a settling goal after two minutes. Cavan recovered somewhat but, between the fifth and the 15th minute, the visitors dominated the play by pressing the Cavan kick-outs and defenders high up the field. That front foot defence lead to seven points without a Cavan reply leaving eight between the sides before the break.
In the second half Cavan came out with rolled up sleeves and chipped away at Donegal’s eight point half-time lead. Donegal extended their lead to nine points on the sixth minute of the second half but, from then until the sending off, Cavan were much the better side as they hit seven points to Donegal’s one to leave just a goal between the sides.
In that second half run, the Cavan forward line got great purchase from running at the Donegal defence winning free after free and, with captain Darragh Lovett in top form, the tactic worked.
Cavan’s bench had a huge impact with Cian Keaney adding two points in the second half; while Dylan Edwards brought more energy to the middle third.
Donegal’s Luke McGlynn finished with five points to his name but was the conductor for Shaun Paul Barrett’s side with some insightful passes leading to scores. Donegal did ride their luck as their second goal was a shot that dropped short and inexplicably ended up in the back of the Cavan net.
Cavan now have a two-week gap until they face Armagh in the next round, which will be a vital game after Armagh got the better of Fermanagh in their opening round clash. Cavan will be hoping to welcome back Favour Shehu, Matthew Smith, Kevin Lovett and Cillian Brady from the injury list ahead of that clash in the Box It athletic grounds.
Cavan team: Liam Bell, Dylan Maguire, Eoin Harten, Oran Daly, Kyle McCabe, Evan Crowe, Ben McGahan, Matthew Costello, Ryan Tobin (0-1), Thomas Partington, Oliver McCrystal (0-1), Lorcan Reilly (0-2,1m), Barry Donnelly, Daire Madden (0-1), Darragh Lovett (0-9,6f,2m). Subs: Cian Kearney (0-2,1f) for T Partington, Jensen Tynan for D Maguire, Dylan Edwards for M Costello, Micheal Smith for B McGahan.
Donegal team: Damien McGowan, Cormac Gallagher, Niall Prendiville, Donal Gallagher(0-1), Finn Coll, Finbar Roarty, Karl Magee, Oisin Caulfield(0-1), Conor Reid, Conor McGinty (0-1), Luke McGlynn(0-5,1f), Senan Carr (0-1), KJ Molloy(1-3,1m), Patrick McElwee(1-3),Eoghan Kelly. Subs used: Luke Clerkin for N Prendiville, Daithi Gildea for KJ Molloy, Adam McGeever for S Carr, Sean Martin for K Magee.